Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 125422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Her lips curve into a small, grateful smile. It’s a rare tenderness, despite the duty and war that has hardened us.
She nods, shoulders a bit straighter. “Well, I’ve had a great teacher. I won’t let fear dictate my actions. You can depend on me, I promise.”
A part of me swells with pride. Through everything, my children have shown courage, each forging their own path. I fear for them, but I also trust them. Perhaps that trust will guide us through this horror to come.
We continue walking, careful steps on the slick ground. The silence is peaceful, broken only by distant drips of water as ice melts from branches and the occasional troops adjusting their rifles from their hidden vantage points. The Star Swamp reflects silver and gray in the fading afternoon light, and I think of the forces already gathering somewhere beyond the forest’s edge. Did the snowbird find them yet?
Night falls slowly, the sky darkening from silver to charcoal. We return to Castle Synti, entering through a side gate, where a guard nods respectfully. Inside, torches are lit, the hall warmer than outside. The generals and Torben have dispersed for now, each to their tasks. I sense that everyone is resting before the inevitable storm.
I settle by a window that overlooks the swamp, Lovia at my side. We say little, just watching the darkening landscape. My mind wanders to Tuonen and Sarvi again, hoping they remain safe, hoping this war won’t claim them too.
Then, my thoughts drift to Hanna. The longer she’s away from me, the more desperate I am to hold on to her. I wish there was some way I could communicate with her, just to remind her I’m here and waiting for her return, but the realm of the sun is like another dimension entirely. I have to find comfort in the idea that she might be watching me, right now, from all the way up there. I’m tempted to give her a wave, but I think Lovia might think I’m nuts.
A faint flutter of wings in the distance catches my eye, and I straighten and peer outside. There, approaching through the dim twilight, is my snowbird. It flies low, ghost-white against the dark. I hurry outside to the balcony where it first reappeared to me, Lovia trailing behind. We stand in the cold, watching as the snowbird glides on silent wings and lands on the railing.
Its eyes gleam with urgency. I raise my hand, and it steps onto my wrist, breathing fast, feathers ruffled. “What did you see?” I whisper, as if expecting it to answer. It cannot speak words, but I know how to read its mannerisms.
It lifts its head, pointing its beak toward the forests to the north. The message is clear: the Hiisi Forest. Something stirs there. Then, it flutters, turning to point toward the river’s direction. Two fronts. Two armies. I feel a chill, and not just from the winter air.
“They’re coming,” Lovia says quietly, her voice tense. She understands the bird’s signals as well as I do.
I nod grimly and look back to the bird. “Are they holding fort, or are they on the move, heading for us?”
The bird goes raises both wings straight up, a motion that says halt.
For now, they aren’t moving. At least there’s that.
“We have little time,” I say softly, stroking the bird’s head. It relaxes slightly at my touch, as if glad to have delivered its message. “We must prepare. If they’re already out there, expecting us, then this changes everything.”
Lovia’s eyes burn with fierce determination. “We must alert the others. Call an emergency council.”
“A general’s job,” I remind her before she nods and runs off into the castle.
I face the dark silhouette of the distant land, heart pounding with dread and resolve. Hopefully, we’ll hear back from Vellamo’s allies, as well as the Keskelli, soon.
I inhale the cold night air, my lungs filling with resolve. “We’ll make them regret coming,” I say out loud.
The snowbird chirps in response.
I glance at it. “I need you to go on another mission,” I tell it. “Find my sister, Ilmatar. Let her know Ahto is dead and we need her help. Perhaps that will spur her into vengeance. You can communicate with her, yes?”
The bird nods. My sister has always been able to communicate with the beings of the air. It is her birthright.
“Good. Then tell her we require her assistance here immediately. After that, I need you to fly to Shadow’s End. Fly above the clouds so you blend in and see if you can find Tuonen or Sarvi. Tell them the plans. If not, find the giant Vipunen and put forth a request for aid.”
The bird tilts its head. Perhaps all of this is a pretty tall order, but I’m counting on someone somewhere to understand this flying, furry dinosaur.